Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-08-25
A LONG WEEK.


4 A LONG WEEK.
How Grace and Leslie Were Taught a
Much Needed Lesson.
30 mamma, Leslie is the naughtiest
boy! I shouldn t s'pose anybody could
love him, and I don't ever want to play
| with him any more.
| Mamma Lester looked up from heT
sewing, and said, with sigh: t'
''Graeie, what is the trouble nowp''
sIt's Leslie, mamma. He wanted to
play 'nagerie with his Noah's ark, and
I wanted to play we were going on a
'scursion, and take all my dolls for
poor city children, and Leslie wouldn't.
/ think he's just as selfish as can be;
and then he knocked my dollies all ON
the floor in heap, and smashed Lilian's
head, or something, I s'pose, for I
thought heard it crack
'.Now we will hear what Grace did, ~
interrupted her mother. a (.
'.Why, didn't do nothing-much, ~
said Grace, "'cept as I just hit his
Noah's ark little speck, and il. fell on
the floor, and Noah's head came off;
and Leslie grabbed 'em up just as quick
| as he could, and said he shouldn't ever
come again, and ran home" s.a
Il am very sorry that my little girl
| should treat her cousin in that, way.
| and visitor, too, )" said Grace's mother.
| '.It certainly was very unkind. = Is
Grace hung her head, but the naughty
look did not leave her face. ~
Mamma, she said, II don't s'pose,
| any body in all the world could. be kind
| to such tryin' boy. I hope he won't
| come to see me again till I'm hum
dred years old, do, truly"
Mamma took up a pen and some
paper, and wrote a note, which she
handed to Grace.
81 want to have you remember,
Grace she said, ''that you are not to
60 to see Leslie or speak to him for a
whole week. I have explained it to
Aunt Dolly in this note, which you may
take over to her now"
'Oh, goody!' said Grace. 81 guess
Leslie will be sorry enough, and wish
he'd tried to please me. Kiss me-.
mamma, fore I CO. ..4e.
She held up her sweet face, but her
mamma was bending over her work.
II haven't any kiss for you now" she
said.
The little girls eyes filled with tears.
''Why haven't you, mamma" she
asked. If
''You think it over while you are
gone. and perhaps you may find some
reason" was the answer.
The little girl went away with, very.
sober face. She delivered the note to
Aunt Dolly, who read it with queer
smile.
''TelI your mamma that her idea is
good one," she said.
When Grace left the house, she saw
Leslie sitting under the big elm tree,
looking as if all his friends had desert
ed him.
Grace glanced at him, then hurried
on without word; but she had only
gone few steps before he called her.
Ifyou'H bring your dolls over, I'll
play any thing you want to-" he said.
Grace stopped and turned half way
round, but did not answer.
betty is making me strawberry
turnover and I'll give you half, he
added. as an extra induceme nt-
The little girl did not wait TO hear
anything more, but hurried home and
went directly to her mothers room.
mamma" she began, II guess-may
belt was me most as much as twas
Leslie that was naughty" -s i
Mamma did not look up from her
sewing ga t-sfess
Presently Grace came to her with a
very penitent face. ~
Mamma she said, ''I'm sorry / |
was naughty; twas me great. deal
more than twas Leslie s@ ne
Then mamma laid down her work +
and kissed her little daughter.
81 am very glad to hear you say sc" /
she said, land I hope you will try and
be gentle and kind to your cousin in I
the future sxse3~t "a r
Cant / please just go and tell Leslie
I'm sorryPf' asked Grace, .coaxingly.,
do you remember what said about
1t, dearP' asked Mrs. Lester.
Eyes, 'um," said Grace, "but''--e
''Well, Grace, when say anything
like that, don't you think mean ihg
30 mamma! can ever live whole
week less / can see Leslie, don't
s'pose. Can't you please shut me up
In dark closet, and make me- live, on
bread and 'lasses, or else send me to
bed to stay all day-or something,
cause don't you see this will punish
Leslie just the same as me, and he's
such a darling and wouldn't ever
quarrel if 'twasn't for me. IL you only
would, Mamma Lester!" i
Mamma smiled behind her work.
81 think you both need lesson"
she said, .'and am sure yoa will love
each other better for weeks separa-
tion.'
Poor Gracei It was very hard, and
it seemed as if she could not bear it.
The hours went SO slowly she was glad
when mamma told her it was bedtime,
and she went to sleep thinking that
one day had gone What long. long |
week that was!
Leslie came over every morning to
the gate, and threw her kisses, which
she returned with interest. It seemed
to Grace that she could never quarrel
with Leslie again, and that she should
be perfectly willing that he should have
his own way in every thing. if that
dreadful week would only come to IN
end. And it really did at last
24sY eat 81 1860 AZ 4s.s#lSff